Flow path switching valve and method for manufacturing flow path switching valve

Abstract

To provide a flow passage changeover valve that prevents an effect on coupling to a peripheral component coupled to the flow passage changeover valve.SOLUTION: A flow passage changeover valve includes: a valve body 22 having a first peripheral part that surrounds a pair of first holes 40B; and a flow passage formation part 24 including a second peripheral part that surrounds a pair of second holes corresponding to the pair of first holes. In the flow passage formation part, while the pair of first holes and the pair of second holes communicate with each other to form a pair of flow passages, the second peripheral part is welded to the first peripheral part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a flow path switching valve and a method for manufacturing a flow path switching valve. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a ball valve in which an outlet flow path is welded to a valve case. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-223418 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a flow path switching valve that has a valve body and a flow path forming portion welded to the valve body to form a flow path between the valve body and the flow path forming portion, if the flow path switching valve is welded out of phase with the valve body, this may affect the connection with peripheral components connected to the flow path switching valve.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a flow path switching valve that has a valve body and a flow path forming portion welded to the valve body so that the flow path of the valve body and the flow path of the flow path forming portion are connected, and provides a flow path switching valve that is less likely to affect the connection with peripheral parts connected to the flow path switching valve and a method for manufacturing the flow path switching valve. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The flow path switching valve according to the first aspect comprises a valve body having a first peripheral portion surrounding a pair of first holes, and a flow path forming portion having a second peripheral portion surrounding a pair of second holes corresponding to the pair of first holes, wherein the second peripheral portion is welded to the first peripheral portion while the pair of first holes and the pair of second holes are respectively connected to form a pair of flow paths.

[0007] In the flow path switching valve according to the first aspect, when the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion are welded together, a pair of flow paths are formed by the pair of first holes in the valve body and the pair of second holes in the flow path forming portion, which suppresses phase shifting of the flow path forming portion relative to the valve body, and therefore is less likely to affect the connection of peripheral components connected to the flow path switching valve.

[0008] The flow path switching valve according to the second aspect is the flow path switching valve according to the first aspect, wherein the welded area between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion in one of the pair of flow paths and the welded area between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion in the other of the pair of flow paths overlap each other.

[0009] In the flow path switching valve according to the second aspect, when the two welded regions overlap, the distance between the pair of flow paths becomes short, so the entire flow path switching valve becomes more compact compared to a configuration in which the two welded regions are spaced apart.

[0010] The flow path switching valve according to the third aspect is the flow path switching valve according to the first aspect, wherein the welded regions between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion in one and the other of the pair of flow paths are formed in a single ring shape.

[0011] In the flow path switching valve according to the third aspect, no welded region is formed between the pair of flow paths, and therefore the energy required for welding is reduced compared to a configuration in which two welded regions overlap.

[0012] The flow path switching valve according to the fourth aspect is the flow path switching valve according to the first aspect, wherein the welded area between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion in one of the pair of flow paths and the welded area between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion in the other of the pair of flow paths are separated from each other to form independent annular welded areas.

[0013] In the flow path switching valve according to the fourth aspect, the influence of phase shift is reduced compared to a configuration in which the welded regions corresponding to the pair of flow paths overlap, and therefore the positioning accuracy of the pair of flow paths is improved.

[0014] A flow path switching valve according to a fifth aspect is a flow path switching valve according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the valve body or the flow path forming portion has a guide portion that rises from an outer circumferential portion of one of the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion and surrounds the outer circumferential portion of the other of the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion.

[0015] In the flow path switching valve according to the fifth aspect, the guide portion guides one welding surface to the other welding surface, so that the assembly of the welding surfaces is easier than in a configuration in which the welding surfaces are assembled only to each other.

[0016] A method for manufacturing a flow path switching valve according to the sixth aspect includes preparing a valve body having a first welding surface surrounding a pair of first holes, bringing the second welding surface of a flow path forming portion having a second welding surface surrounding a pair of second holes corresponding to the pair of first holes into contact with the first welding surface so that the pair of first holes and the pair of second holes are respectively connected to form a pair of flow paths, and welding the first welding surface and the second welding surface.

[0017] In the method for manufacturing a flow path switching valve according to the sixth aspect, when the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion are welded together, a pair of flow paths are formed by the pair of first holes in the valve body and the pair of second holes in the flow path forming portion, which suppresses phase shifting of the flow path forming portion relative to the valve body and is less likely to affect connection with peripheral components connected to the flow path switching valve. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the flow path switching valve of the present disclosure, the flow path switching valve has a valve body and a flow path forming portion welded to the valve body so that the flow path of the valve body and the flow path of the flow path forming portion are connected, and there is no effect on the connection with peripheral parts connected to the flow path switching valve. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a flow path switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a flow path switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the flow path switching valve according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the flow path switching valve according to the embodiment with a holder cut away. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a holder of the flow path switching valve according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6(A) is a right side view of a holder of the flow path switching valve according to this embodiment, and FIG. 6(B) is a left side view of a valve body of the flow path switching valve according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7(A) is an S1-S1 cross-sectional view of the holder of the flow path switching valve according to this embodiment, and FIG. 7(B) is an S2-S2 cross-sectional view of the valve body corresponding to the holder. [Figure 8] Figure 8(A) is a front cross-sectional view showing the state in which the welding surface on the valve body side and the welding surface on the holder side are in contact, and Figure 8(B) is a front cross-sectional view of the flow path switching valve showing the state in which the holder is welded to the valve body. [Figure 9] FIG. 9(A) is a right side view of a holder of a flow path switching valve according to a first modified example, and FIG. 9(B) is a left side view of a valve body corresponding to the holder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] This embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are designated by the same or similar reference numerals. However, the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between thickness and planar dimensions, the thickness ratios of each device and each component, etc., differ from the actual ones. Therefore, specific thicknesses and dimensions should be determined with reference to the following explanation. Furthermore, parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings. Furthermore, for convenience, the H direction means the up-down direction, the W direction means the width direction, and the D direction means the depth direction. Furthermore, the H direction, W direction, and D direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0021] <Configuration of flow path switching device> The flow path switching device 1 is a device that switches the flow path of a refrigerant flowing inside or outside a heat source, for example, to cool the drive source of an automobile or other heat source. As shown in Fig. 1, the flow path switching device 1 has a rotary drive unit 10 and a flow path switching valve 20.

[0022] The flow path switching device 1 is unitized (modularized), and a plurality of flow path switching devices 1 are connected to each other via flow path switching valves 20. In this specification, a minimum unit of the flow path switching device 1 will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the flow path switching device 1 has one rotary drive unit 10 and two flow path switching valves 20.

[0023] <Flow path switching valve configuration> (Rotation drive unit) 1 and 2, the rotary drive unit 10 has a housing extending in the width direction and is disposed at the top in the vertical direction of the flow path switching device 1. A rotor that rotates around an axis extending in the vertical direction relative to the housing is configured inside the rotary drive unit 10. The rotor receives control signals related to a predetermined rotation direction, rotation speed, rotation angle, etc. from a control unit (not shown), and rotates based on the control signals.

[0024] (Flow path switching valve) As shown in Fig. 1, the flow path switching valve 20 has a shape having two cylinders extending in the depth direction. The flow path switching valve 20 is disposed vertically below the rotary drive unit 10. The flow path switching valve 20 can switch the direction of refrigerant flow therein using the rotary drive unit 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the flow path switching valve 20 on the upper side in the vertical direction and the rotary drive unit 10 are fixed to each other by bolts 14 via a bracket 12. In addition, the flow path switching valve 20 can be connected to another flow path switching valve 20 (not shown) in the depth direction.

[0025] 2, the flow path switching valves 20 can be connected in the vertical direction, and in this embodiment, two flow path switching valves 20 are connected in a stacked state in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the configuration will be mainly described using the upper flow path switching valve 20 of the two flow path switching valves 20 in the vertical direction.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the flow path switching valve 20 includes a valve body 22, a valve element 34, and a holder 24.

[0027] ((Valve body)) As shown in Fig. 6(B), the valve body 22 has a T-shaped outer shape when viewed in the width direction. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, the valve body 22 has a shape in which two short tubes, each extending in the width direction and stacked in the vertical direction, and a long tube extending in the depth direction are connected together. More specifically, the valve body 22 has a first flow path section 30, a valve chamber section 32, and an annular member 44. The valve body 22 has a flow path switching function in the flow path switching valve 20.

[0028] (((first flow path section))) As shown in FIG. 1 , the first flow path section 30 is a cylinder extending in the depth direction and having a center line CV. The interior of the first flow path section 30 is a flow path through which a refrigerant flows in the depth direction. The first flow path section 30 is formed with a female section 30A and a male section 30B. The female section 30A forms the end on the rear side in the depth direction. The male section 30B has an outer diameter smaller than that of the female section 30A and forms the end on the front side in the depth direction. The male section 30B is connectable to the female section 30A of a first flow path section 30 in another flow path switching valve 20 (not shown), and the female section 30A is connectable to the male section 30B of a first flow path section 30 in yet another flow path switching valve 20 (not shown). The dimensions and shapes of the female section 30A and the male section 30B are determined, for example, by known standards.

[0029] (((valve chamber))) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7B, the valve chamber 32 is shaped as a combination of a cylinder (the main body 40, described below) and a bottomed cylinder (the bent portion 50, described below) that extend together in the width direction and are aligned vertically. In other words, the valve chamber 32 has a pair of holes (the holder-side end 40B and the open end 50B, described below) aligned vertically when viewed in the width direction. Furthermore, the valve chamber 32 has through-holes (the upper end 40C and the lower end 40D) formed in the vertical direction on each cylindrical surface (the inner circumferential surface of the main body 40 and the inner circumferential surface of the bent portion 50) of the cylinder and the bottomed cylinder. The valve chamber 32 is in communication with the interior of the central portion of the first flow path 30 in the depth direction. The valve chamber 32 includes the main body 40, the bent portion 50, a base 58, a welded portion 60, and a guide portion 66.

[0030] [Main body] As shown in Figure 4, the main body 40 has a cylindrical shape extending in the width direction with a hole formed therethrough in the vertical direction. The main body 40 houses the valve element 34, which will be described later. The main body 40 constitutes the upper and lower upper portions of the valve chamber 32.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 7B, the widthwise and vertical ends of the main body 40 are referred to as a flow path end 40A, a holder end 40B, an upper end 40C, and a lower end 40D, respectively.

[0032] The flow path side end portion 40A forms the end portion of the main body portion 40 on the first flow path portion 30 side in the width direction, and is connected to the first flow path portion 30 so that their interiors communicate with each other. In this embodiment, the flow path side end portion 40A has an inner diameter d1 that is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the first flow path portion 30.

[0033] When viewed in the width direction from the inside of the main body 40, an annular groove 40A1 is formed on the inside of the flow path side end 40A. The annular groove 40A1 has an inner diameter d2 and an outer diameter d3. The inner diameter d2 is larger than the inner diameter d1 of the flow path side end 40A, and the outer diameter d3 is larger than the inner diameter d2. An O-ring 42 is accommodated in the annular groove 40A1 from the inside of the main body 40.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 7(B) and 8(A), the holder-side end 40B forms an open end of the main body 40 on the opposite side of the first flow path section 30 in the width direction. The holder-side end 40B has a step 40B1 in the width direction. The inner diameter of the cylindrical surface CL1 along the width direction of the step 40B1 is d4. The inner diameter d4 is larger than the inner diameter d3. The inner diameter of the cylindrical surface CL2 on the first flow path section 30 side in the width direction from the cylindrical surface CL1 is also d3. The holder-side end 40B also has a through-hole with an inner diameter d1 on the first flow path section 30 side in the width direction from the cylindrical surface CL2. The holder-side end 40B is an example of a first hole.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 4, the upper end 40C forms the end of the main body 40 on the rotation drive unit 10 side in the vertical direction. A step is formed in the upper end 40C in the vertical direction, and as shown in Fig. 2, the upper end 40C is connected to the rotation drive unit 10. A shaft (not shown) of the rotation drive unit 10 is inserted into the upper end 40C.

[0036] 7(B), the lower end 40D forms the end of the main body 40 opposite the rotation drive unit 10 in the up-down direction. The shaft (not shown) of the rotation drive unit 10, which is inserted from the upper end 40C, is inserted into the lower end 40D. In other words, the shaft (not shown) of the rotation drive unit 10 is inserted in a state where it penetrates both ends of the main body 40 in the up-down direction.

[0037] [Bending part] As shown in Figures 4 and 7(B), the bent portion 50 has the shape of a cylinder that extends in the width direction and has a bottom that opens on the opposite side of the width direction, with a through-hole formed in the vertical direction on the cylindrical surface. The bent portion 50 constitutes the vertical lower portion of the valve chamber 32. As shown in Figure 7(B), the widthwise and vertical ends of the bent portion 50 are referred to as a wall portion 50A, an open end 50B, an upper end 50C, and a lower end 50D, respectively.

[0038] The wall portion 50A is disposed on the first flow path portion 30 side in the width direction, and is a semispherical shell-shaped wall that curves outward.

[0039] The open end 50B is a cylindrical portion located on the opposite side of the wall portion 50A from the first flow path portion 30 in the width direction. The open end 50B has an inner diameter d5. The inner diameter d5 is larger than the inner diameter d1 of the flow path side end 40A. The open end 50B is an example of a first hole, and together with the holder side end 40B, forms a pair of first holes.

[0040] The upper end 50C is the upper end in the up-down direction and is connected to the lower end 40D of the main body 40 in a state where the interiors of the main body 40 and the upper end 50C are in communication with each other.

[0041] 7B, the lower end portion 50D is a lower end portion in the up-down direction and has a flange formed thereon. The lower end portion 50D can be connected to the upper end portion 50C of the main body portion 40 of another flow path switching valve 20 (see FIG. 2) via the flange.

[0042] The bent portion 50 protrudes downward from the first flow path portion 30 when viewed in the width direction, and as described above, the valve body 22 is T-shaped.

[0043] 〔base〕 As shown in FIG. 7(B), the base 58 is a flange-shaped portion that connects the main body 40 and the open end of the bent portion 50. Specifically, the base 58 is formed in an "8" shape that connects the holder-side end 40B of the main body 40 and the open end 50B of the bent portion 50 in the vertical direction. The base 58, together with the welded portion 60 described below, is an example of a first peripheral portion. Note that the "peripheral portion" in the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion described below is a concept that includes the welded portion and its surroundings.

[0044] [Welded part] 4 and 6, the welded portion 60 is an "8"-shaped portion formed in the vertical direction across the main body portion 40 and the bent portion 50. The welded portion 60 is the portion of the valve body 22 that is welded to the holder 24.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 7(B), the welded portion 60 protrudes from the base portion 58 toward the opposite side of the first widthwise flow path portion 30, on the inside of the outer edge of the base portion 58. The end face of the welded portion 60 in the widthwise direction is defined as a welded surface 60A. The welded surface 60A is an example of a first welded surface. The welded portion 60 forms a welded region, which will be described later, as a result of welding.

[0046] The welding surface 60A on the main body 40 side is called an upper welding surface 60U, and the welding surface on the bent portion 50 side is called a lower welding surface 60L (see FIG. 6).

[0047] [Guide section] As shown in FIG. 7(B), the guide portion 66 is a frame-shaped portion formed on the outer periphery of the base portion 58. In this embodiment, the guide portion 66 has a shape corresponding to the outer periphery of two circles connected in the vertical direction. The guide portion 66 is formed on the outer periphery side of the welded portion 60 and extends from the base portion 58 toward the opposite side of the first widthwise flow path portion 30. The guide portion 66 extends to a position surrounding a base portion 77 of the holder 24, which will be described later.

[0048] The valve chamber 32 is formed as described above.

[0049] (((Annular member))) As shown in Fig. 4, the annular member 44 is formed in an annular shape when viewed in the width direction, and as shown in Fig. 7(B), a pair of annular members 44 are arranged along the vertical direction of the main body 40 in the valve chamber 32, at both ends of the opening in the width direction of the main body 40. The portion of the annular member 44 that slides against the valve disc 34 (described later) is formed into a spherical surface. The annular member 44 has an inner diameter d1 and an outer diameter d3.

[0050] One of the annular members 44 is disposed at the flow path side end 40A so as to press the O-ring 42 in the width direction. The other of the annular member 44 is disposed inside the cylindrical surface CL2 of the holder side end 40B so as to be flush with the step 40B1, as shown in Fig. 8(A).

[0051] The valve body 22 is constructed as described above.

[0052] ((Valve body)) As shown in FIG. 7B , the valve element 34 is a sphere having a vertical through-hole 46 and a notch in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, and is rotatably housed within the main body 40 of the valve chamber 32. The valve element 34 engages with a shaft (not shown) of the rotary drive unit 10 through the through-hole 46, and switches the flow path by rotating the rotary drive unit 10 about an axis along the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the valve element 34 can connect or block the lower end 40D of the main body 40 to the flow path end 40A or the holder end 40B. For example, when the notch of the valve element 34 faces the flow path end 40A, the flow path end 40A and the lower end 40D are connected, and the holder end 40B and the lower end 40D are blocked from each other. On the other hand, when the notch faces the holder-side end 40B, the holder-side end 40B and the lower end 40D communicate with each other, and the flow path-side end 40A and the lower end 40D are cut off from each other.

[0053] The valve element 34 is housed in the main body 40 with the O-ring 42 housed in the annular groove 40A1 of the main body 40 and both widthwise ends of the valve element 34 covered with a pair of annular members 44. The valve element 34 rotates 360° around an axis along the up-down direction while sliding between the pair of annular members 44.

[0054] In this embodiment, the through-hole 46 has a splined shape, as shown in Fig. 4. The through-hole 46 is closed by engaging with the spline on the outer periphery of the shaft.

[0055] ((holder)) Next, a description will be given of the holder 24. The holder 24 is an example of a flow path forming portion.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 6(A), the holder 24 has a T-shaped outer shape when viewed in the width direction. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, the holder 24 has a shape in which two tubes extending in the width direction and stacked in the vertical direction are connected to a long tube extending in the depth direction. More specifically, the holder 24 has a second flow path section 70, a third flow path section 90, and a welded section 78. As shown in Fig. 3, the holder 24 forms part of the flow path of the flow path switching valve 20.

[0057] (((second flow path section))) As shown in FIG. 1, the second flow path section 70 is a cylinder extending in the depth direction and having a center line CH. The interior of the second flow path section 70 is a flow path through which the refrigerant flows in the depth direction. The second flow path section 70 is formed with a female portion 70A and a male portion 70B. The female portion 70A forms the end portion on the rear side in the depth direction. The male portion 70B has an outer diameter smaller than that of the female portion 70A and forms the end portion on the front side in the depth direction. The male portion 70B is connectable to the female portion 70A of a second flow path section 70 in another flow path switching valve 20 (not shown), and the female portion 70A is connectable to the male portion 70B of a second flow path section 70 in yet another flow path switching valve 20 (not shown). The dimensions and shapes of the female portion 70A and the male portion 70B are determined, for example, by known standards. As shown in FIG. 5, the second flow path section 70 has a branch portion 72 between the female portion 70A and the male portion 70B in the depth direction.

[0058] [Branch] 5, the branch portion 72 is a cylinder extending in the width direction from the center portion in the depth direction of the second flow path portion 70. The branch portion 72 is in communication with both the second flow path portion 70 and the main body portion 40 of the valve body 22. The branch portion 72 has a small diameter portion 74 and a large diameter portion 76.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 7(A), the small diameter portion 74 is the widthwise end portion of the branch portion 72. The small diameter portion 74 has an inner diameter d1 and an outer diameter d2, and when viewed from the opposite side of the main body portion 40 in the width direction, the small diameter portion 74 is an annular protrusion. The small diameter portion 74 is disposed in correspondence with the holder-side end portion 40B of the main body portion 40 in the valve body 22. The small diameter portion 74 is an example of a second hole. The small diameter portion 74 and the main body portion 40 form a single flow path.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 7(A), the large diameter portion 76 is an annular body formed on the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 74. The large diameter portion 76 has an inner diameter d3 and an outer diameter d4. As shown in FIG. 8(A), the large diameter portion 76 fits into the cylindrical surface CL1 of the holder-side end portion 40B of the valve body 22. A seal 26, which will be described later, is housed in the vertical gap between the large diameter portion 76 and the small diameter portion 74. The widthwise end faces of the large diameter portion 76 and the widthwise end faces of the small diameter portion 74 are both located on the same imaginary plane that is aligned vertically.

[0061] (((Third flow path section))) As shown in Fig. 5, the third flow path section 90 is a cylinder extending in the width direction. A refrigerant flows inside the third flow path section 90. The third flow path section 90 is connected to the second flow path section 70 on the vertically lower side thereof in a state in which it intersects with the second flow path section 70. The third flow path section 90 and the second flow path section 70 are flow path sections independent of each other, and the third flow path section 90 and the second flow path section 70 are not directly connected to each other. However, the third flow path section 90 and the second flow path section 70 can be connected to each other via the valve chamber section 32 of the valve body 22. The third flow path section 90 has a cylindrical section 92.

[0062] [Cylindrical part] As shown in FIG. 7(A), the cylindrical portion 92 is a cylinder extending in the width direction. The cylindrical portion 92 has one end 92A and the other end 92B. The cylindrical portion 92 is an example of a second hole. The one end 92A is disposed on the width-directional valve body 22 side and is an annular body having an outer diameter d5. The one end 92A fits into the inner portion of the open end 50B of the bent portion 50 in the valve body 22. The other end 92B has a flange 93 formed on the width-directional one end 92A side, the flange 93 having an outer diameter larger than that of the annular body of the one end 92A. The cylindrical portion 92 and the bent portion 50 form a single flow path.

[0063] (((base))) 5 and 7(A), the base 77 is a flange-like portion that connects the branching portion 72 of the second flow path portion 70 and the cylindrical portion 92 of the third flow path portion 90, and is formed in an "8" shape. The base 77, together with the welded portion 78 described below, is an example of a second peripheral portion.

[0064] (((welded part))) 5, the welded portion 78 is an "8"-shaped portion when viewed in the width direction, formed along the vertical direction across the branch portion 72 and the third flow path portion 90. Specifically, the welded portion 78 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the large diameter portion 76 of the branch portion 72 and the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 92 of the third flow path portion 90. The welded portion 78 is a portion welded to the valve body 22 of the holder 24, and is welded to the welded portion 60.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 7(A), the welded portion 78 protrudes from the base 77 toward the first flow path section 30 in the width direction, on the inside of the outer edge of the base 77. The end face of the welded portion 78 along the up-down direction in the width direction is defined as a welded surface 78A. The welded surface 78A is an example of a second welded surface. A hole with an inner diameter d1 of the small diameter section 74 is arranged on the welded surface 78A. The outer periphery of the welded surface 78A is surrounded by the guide section 66. The welded surface on the branch section 72 side of the welded surface 78A is called an upper welded surface 78U, and the welded surface on the third flow path section 90 side is called a lower welded surface 78L (see FIG. 6).

[0066] The holder 24 is thus constructed.

[0067] ((seal)) In addition to the above, the flow path switching valve 20 has a seal 26 between the valve body 22 and the holder 24. The seal 26 prevents refrigerant leakage between the valve body 22 and the holder 24, which are welded together.

[0068] The flow path switching valve 20 is configured as described above.

[0069] <Manufacturing method of flow path switching valve> Next, a method for manufacturing the flow path switching valve 20 will be described.

[0070] 7(B), the valve body 22 is prepared with the welding surface 60A of the valve body 22 facing in the direction opposite to the width direction.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 7(A), the welding surface 78A of the holder 24 is oriented toward the welding surface 60A of the valve body 22.

[0072] 8(A), the holder 24 is fitted to the valve body 22. Specifically, one end 92A of the cylindrical portion 92 of the holder 24 is fitted to the open end 50B of the bent portion 50 of the valve body 22, and the large diameter portion 76 of the branched portion 72 of the holder 24 is fitted to the holder-side end 40B of the main body portion 40 of the valve body 22.

[0073] Next, the holder 24 is brought into contact with the valve body 22. Specifically, the welding surface 60A of the valve body 22 and the welding surface 78A of the holder 24 are brought into contact with each other.

[0074] As shown in Figure 8(B), the valve body 22 and the holder 24 are welded together. Specifically, the holder 24 is pressed against the valve body 22, and the tip of the large-diameter portion 76 of the holder 24 is brought into contact with the step 40B1 of the valve body 22. The upper welding surface 60U and the upper welding surface 78U are welded together, and the lower welding surface 60L and the lower welding surface 78L are welded together. As a result of the welding, the upper welding surface 60U and the upper welding surface 78U form an upper welding area UA, and the lower welding surface 60L and the lower welding surface 78L form a lower welding area LA. In this embodiment, the upper welding area UA and the lower welding area LA overlap to form a connecting welding area OA.

[0075] Here, the "welded area" in the upper welded area UA and the lower welded area LA refers to the traces of welding between multiple peripheral portions that were previously integrated and that appear when the welded valve body 22 and holder 24 are separated, and refers to an area that did not exist before welding. The welded area may be larger in area than the welded surface before welding. If the boundary between the upper welded area UA and the lower welded area LA is not clear, the upper welded area UA and the lower welded area LA are considered to form a connected welded area OA that includes the boundary, and the connected welded area OA is considered to belong to either the upper welded area UA or the lower welded area LA.

[0076] The welding is performed based on a known welding method, under predetermined temperature conditions, predetermined time conditions, etc. Examples of the welding method include heat welding and ultrasonic welding.

[0077] The method for manufacturing the flow path switching valve 20 is as described above.

[0078] <Action and effect> The flow path switching valve 20 of this embodiment comprises a valve body 22 having a welding surface 60A surrounding a pair of holder side end portions 40B and opening end portions 50B, and a holder 24 having a welding surface 78A surrounding a pair of small diameter portions 74 and cylindrical portions 92 corresponding to the pair of holder side end portions 40B and opening end portions 50B, wherein the holder side end portions 40B and opening end portions 50B are respectively connected to the small diameter portions 74 and cylindrical portions 92 to form a pair of flow paths, and the holder 24 has the welding surface 78A welded to the welding surface 60A.

[0079] Furthermore, the method for manufacturing the flow path switching valve 20 according to this embodiment involves preparing a valve body 22 having a welding surface 60A surrounding a pair of holder-side end portions 40B and opening end portions 50B, bringing the welding surface 78A of a holder 24, which has a welding surface 78A surrounding a pair of small diameter portions 74 and cylindrical portions 92 corresponding to the pair of holder-side end portions 40B and opening end portions 50B, into contact with the welding surface 60A so that the holder-side end portion 40B and opening end portion 50B communicate with the small diameter portion 74 and cylindrical portion 92, respectively, to form a pair of flow paths, and welding the welding surface 60A to the welding surface 78A.

[0080] According to the flow path switching valve 20 and the manufacturing method thereof, when the valve body 22 and the holder 24 are welded together, the small diameter portion 74 and the main body portion 40 are fitted together, and the cylindrical portion 92 and the bent portion 50 are fitted together. When the welding surface 78A and the welding surface 60A are welded together, a pair of flow paths is formed by the pair of the holder-side end portion 40B and the open end portion 50B of the valve body 22 and the pair of the small diameter portion 74 and the cylindrical portion 92 of the holder 24. In other words, the fitting at the two locations restricts the rotation of one flow path relative to the other flow path, uniquely determining the phase. This suppresses phase shift of the holder 24 relative to the valve body 22, which is less likely to affect the connection of peripheral components connected to the flow path switching valve 20, such as other flow path switching valves 20.

[0081] In addition, in the flow path switching valve 20 of this embodiment, the welding area between the upper welding surface 60U and the upper welding surface 78U (upper welding area UA) and the welding area between the lower welding surface 60L and the lower welding surface 78L (lower welding area LA) overlap each other as a connecting welding area OA.

[0082] According to the flow path switching valve 20, when the two welded regions overlap, the distance between the pair of flow paths becomes short, so the entire flow path switching valve 20 becomes more compact in the vertical direction compared to a configuration in which the two welded regions are spaced apart.

[0083] Furthermore, in the flow path switching valve 20 according to this embodiment, the valve body 22 has a guide portion 66 that rises from the outer peripheral side portion of the welding surface 60A and surrounds the outer periphery of the welding surface 78A.

[0084] According to the flow path switching valve 20, the guide portion 66 guides the welding surface 60A to the welding surface 78A, so that the assembly of the welding surfaces is easier than in a configuration where the welding surfaces are assembled only to each other.

[0085] Although the present disclosure has been described using the above disclosed embodiments, the descriptions and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be understood to limit the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure can also be configured by partially combining the configurations shown in Figures 1 to 7. The present disclosure includes various embodiments not described above, and the technical scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the invention-specifying matters in the claims that are appropriate from the above description.

[0086] <Modification> (First Modification) As shown in FIG. 9, this modified example differs only in shape from the welding surface 60A of the valve body 22 and the welding surface 78A of the holder 24 in the flow path switching valve 20 of the above embodiment, and the other basic configurations are the same as those of the above embodiment.

[0087] Specifically, in the above embodiment, the welding surface 60A and the welding surface 78A are each an "8"-shaped portion when viewed in the width direction. In this modification, the welding surface 160A of the valve body 122 in the flow path switching valve 120 and the welding surface 178A of the holder 124 each extend in the vertical direction and form a single annular portion that does not intersect in the depth direction. For example, the shapes of the welding surface 160A and the welding surface 178A are each gourd-shaped portions.

[0088] Flow path switching valve 120 according to this modification is a flow path switching valve 120 including valve body 122 and holder 124, in which welding surface 160A and welding surface 178A are formed in a single ring shape. Because no welding area is formed between the pair of flow paths, less energy is required for welding compared to a configuration in which two welding areas overlap.

[0089] In this modification, the entire welding surface is gourd-shaped, but this is not limiting. For example, the entire welding surface may be elliptical.

[0090] (Second Modification) This modification differs only in the shapes of the welding surface 60A of the valve body 22 and the welding surface 78A of the holder 24 in the flow path switching valve 20 of the above embodiment, and the other basic configurations are the same as those of the above embodiment.

[0091] Specifically, in the above embodiment, the welding surface 60A and the welding surface 78A are each formed in the shape of the number "8" when viewed in the width direction. In this modification, the two "circles" in the number "8" are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction to form two independent annular welding regions.

[0092] In the flow path switching valve according to this modification, a pair of flow paths configured in the vertical direction are spaced apart. When the pair of flow paths are spaced apart, the influence of phase shift is reduced compared to the above embodiment and the first modification, and therefore the positioning accuracy of the pair of flow paths is improved.

[0093] (Other variations) Although the guide portion 66 is formed on the valve body 22 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the guide portion 66 may be formed on the holder 24. In this case, the guide portion 66 surrounds the outer periphery of the welding surface 60A. Furthermore, when the guide portion 66 guides the welding surface 60A to the welding surface 78A, the guide may be all or part of the welding surface 60A.

[0094] Although the welded portion is formed on both the valve body 22 and the holder 24 in the above embodiment, this is not limiting. For example, the welded portion may be formed on only one of the valve body 22 and the holder 24. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1 Flow path switching device 10 Rotation drive unit 20 Flow path switching valve 22 Valve body 24 Holder (an example of a flow path forming part) 32 Valve chamber 34 Valve body 40 Main body 50 Bend 60 Welded area 66 Guide part 74 Small diameter section 76 Large diameter section 92 Cylindrical part 120 Flow path switching valve 122 Valve body 124 Holder (an example of a flow path forming part) UA Upper welded area (example of welded area) LA Lower welding area (example of welding area) OA Connected Welded Area (Example of Welded Area) CH center line CV center line

Claims

1. a valve body having a first periphery surrounding a pair of first holes; a flow path forming portion having a second peripheral portion surrounding a pair of second holes corresponding to the pair of first holes, the second peripheral portion being welded to the first peripheral portion in a state in which the pair of first holes and the pair of second holes are respectively connected to form a pair of flow paths; Equipped with A flow path switching valve, wherein the valve body or the flow path forming portion has a guide portion that rises from an outer peripheral portion of one of the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion and surrounds the outer peripheral portion of the other of the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion.

2. a welded region between the first periphery and the second periphery in one of the pair of flow channels and a welded region between the first periphery and the second periphery in the other of the pair of flow channels overlap each other; The flow path switching valve according to claim 1 .

3. a welded region between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion of one of the pair of flow paths and the other of the pair of flow paths is formed in a ring shape; The flow path switching valve according to claim 1 .

4. a welded region between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion in one of the pair of flow paths and a welded region between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion in the other of the pair of flow paths are spaced apart from each other to form independent annular welded regions, The flow path switching valve according to claim 1 .

5. providing a valve body having a first welding surface surrounding a pair of first holes; a flow path forming portion having second welding surfaces surrounding a pair of second holes corresponding to the pair of first holes is pressed against the valve body along a guide portion rising from an outer peripheral portion of one of the first welding surfaces and the second welding surfaces and surrounding an outer peripheral portion of the other of the first welding surfaces and the second welding surfaces; the second welding surface is brought into contact with the first welding surface so that the pair of first holes and the pair of second holes are respectively communicated to form a pair of flow paths; welding the first welding surface and the second welding surface; A method for manufacturing a flow path switching valve.

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